Electric welding-machine.



F. E. BEAM.

7 ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27A 1911.

1,098,550, Patented June 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1. G

F. E. BEAM. ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE. APPLIOATFON FILED NOV. 27, 1911.1,()98,55() Patented June 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. E. BEAM.

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.'27, 1911.

1,098,550, 1 Patented June 2,1914.

5 SHEETSSHEET 8.

F. E. BEAM.

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 27, 1911.

1,098,550, Patented June 2, 1914;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MFA/E5555 L V/721M273,

F. E. BEAM.

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1911.

1,098,550, I Patented June 2,1914.

5 SHEETS SHEl-IT 5.

. same,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

mm: E. Esau, or ToLEno, onzo, swam; TO THE ELECTRIC WELDING columnar, orTOLEDQOHIO, A conrowron or 035210.

wELmEe-maorimri.

Speclfiution of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914:.

' Application filed Ionnber 21, 1911. Serial Io. 602,104.

of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State 1 of Ohio, have invented acertain new and useful Electric Welding-Machine; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art 1 to which it appertainsto make and use the reference being had to the accompanyand to theletters and figures in drawin g gs which form a of reference markedthereon, part of this ecification.

My inventlon relates to electric metalworking apparatus designed for usein welding, forging, upsetting, and other operations wherein the work isheated to the desired condition of lasticity for such purposes by thepassage t erethrough of an electric current.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a machine forthemanufacture of wire loops or rings vof rectangular or other desired formfor use in closing the open ends of ba filled with lime or other matter,such artlclm being slipped over the contracted end of a bag and thentwisted to securely close the same. The machine is not limited to themaking of such articles, however, as it may be used for any purpose forwhich it is applicable.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, andwhile, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerousforms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,--

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention withportions broken away, and the parts shown in wire feeding position. Fig.2 is a top plan view thereof, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical cross-section on the line 0:, w in Fig. 1 withportions broken away. Fig. 1 is a similar section on the line y, y inFig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machinewith parts elevation of the work shaping parts, partly in section, witha. wire formed in U-shape.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of such parts on a larger scale with the partsin work welding 228K101} and with portions broken away. 1g. 1s anenlarged detail of the cams and enacting parts which move the formingblocks. Figs. 10 and 11 are side views of the cams controllin mandreland movab e die carrying arm, respectively, and Fig. 12 is a view of themangrel and associated parts in elevated posion. a

In the machine which I have illustrated as embodyln my invention, 1designates the base mem r thereof, 2, 2 opposing side standards, whichrise therefrom, and 3 a frame part which also rises from such base inadvance of said standards, and which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Each of the standards 2 is shown in the present instance as beingprovided with ver tical slots or openings 4 in which upper and lowerbearing-blocks 5 and 6 are slidingly mounted and spaced apart by postsor spacing members 7. The 11 per set of such bearing blocks are-yieldingy held in lowered position by coiled compression springs 8, which aredisposed within said slots and have their lower ends thrust against therespective bearing blocks 5 and their upper ends thrust againstadjusting screws 9 which are threaded through cap strips 10, one ofwhich is socured to the upper end of each standard 2 over the slottherein. Shafts 11 and 12 are mounted in the respective sets ofbearinggears are of like size and mesh together so as to drive theshafts 11 and 12 in unison, and the gear 14 has a small drive gear 15meshing therewith and carried by a shaft 16, which is journaled insuitable bearing standards 17 rising from the base 1, and carries a setof fast and loose belt pulleys 18. Each of the shafts 11 and 12 carriesa segmental wire feedin member 19, and these members are adaptto.co6perate during predetermined portions of their revolutions to feeda predetermined length of a wire a to the shaping and welding parts.

The wire a, to the rear of its point of entrance between the feedmembers 19-19, passes through any suitable form of straightenermechanism 520, and after passing between said members is fed forward themovements of the through a registering feed opening 21 in a stationaryframe part 22, which is fixed intermediate the standards 22, see Figs.1, 3 and 5, and thence over the top of the frame part 3, as hereinafterdescribed.

A wire severing knife 23 is suitably carried for vertical reciprocatorymovements by the standards 2 at their upper forward edges and isintermittently reciprocated to sever a fed wire section b and then torecede from wire severing position by the action of a pair of levers 24,one of which is mounted on a pivot 25 at the outer side of each standard2 adjacent its upperend and has one end in forked engagement with a stud26 projecting from the associated side'edge of the knife23 adjacent itsupper end, and

has its rear end positioned to be acted on by a wiper orcam wheel 27which is mounted on the associated end of the shaft 11. The striking ormoving of the levers 24 by the cams 27 is timed to take place atapproximately the end of a feeding operation of the feed members 19 sothat the wire a will be at rest when the-severing takes place. Acoiledexpansion spring 28 acts on each lever 24 to normally retain the knife23 in raised or retracted position.

The frame part 3 is provided at its top with a table 3 which is dividedlongitudinally thereof or lengthwise of the machine into two sections bya vertical incut or opening 3 in the upper portion of the frame, asshown. The table 3' .of the frame has its top surface longitudinallygrooved or otherwise suitably formed at each side of the opening 3 toform ways in which wire shaping blocks 2929- are mounted for reciprocalmovements. These blocks have their upper surfaces in substantially theplane of feed of the wire a and are provided with longitudinallyextending surface grooves 30, which extend at their inner ends aroundthe inner or adjacent ends of the blocks and thence under the blockslengthwise thereof for a short distance, as best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and8, with the portions of such grooves which are provided on the uppersurfaces of the respective blocks disposed in register with the wirefeed opening 21 in the guide part 22 to permit the wire a to feed acrossboth of such blocks within said grooves. The means employed forimpartingthe respective reciprocal movements to the blocks 29 and 29 'willbehereinafter described.

A wire forming mandrel 31, which may be of any desired form incross-section, is mounted for vertical reciprocal movements in theopening 3 of the frame 3, and is -guided in its -movements by an arm31*,

which projects downward from one end thereof and works in guides 31secured to the frame 3 adjacent the side edges of the.

opening 3", A plunger 32 works upward through the frame 3 into theopening 3 beneath the mandrel 31 and ,has a stem 32 projecting downwardfrom its lower end and working through a registering opening in the base1 and a subjacent guide part 33. A coiled compression spring 34 ismounted on the stem 32*, and has its opposite ends thrust against theguide 33 and a collar or shoulder 35 on the stem to tend to normallymove the plunger to elevated position. A stop member 32 on the lower endof the stem 32 coacts with the guide 33 to limit the upward movement ofthe plunger so that, a free wire-feeding space will be provided betweenthe plunger and mandrel when both are in elevated positions, as shown inFigs. 1 and 12.

The reciprocal movements of the mandrel 31 are controlled by a revolublecam 36 working between rollers 37 and 37 carried by spindles projectingfrom the outer side of the mandrel arm 31, as best shown in Fig. 12. Thecam 36 is carried by a shaft 38, which is mounted in bearing standards39, 39 rising from the base 1. A gear 40 is mounted on the shaft 38intermediate the bearings 3939 and is the same size as the gear 14 anddriven in unison therewith by the drive-gear 15 with which it meshes tocause the cam 36 and feed members -l9-19 to revolve at the same speed.The shape of the cam 36 is such that the mandrel 31 will stand in raisedposition during the feeding action of the wire a to permit such wire tobe fed thereunder and over the plunger 32 and forming blocks 29-29-,1and, upon a severing of the wire, will cause a lowering of the mandrelwithin the frame opening 3 to draw the severed wire section 1) into U-shape within such opening, as shown in Fig. 7. After the terminals ofthe section b have been bent over the top of the mandrel and the weldingtogether of the same performed;

as hereinafter described, the cam will act to quickly raise the mandrelto its elevated position to permit the feeding of another sec tion ofwire thereunder. Upon a lowering of the mandrel from its elevatedposition the central portion of the wire section b is first lowered intocontact with the upper end of the plunger 32, so that the mandrel andplunger coiiperate to firmly grip the wire to prevent endwise movementsthereof duringthe forming operation, the plunger being forced downwardby the mandrel upon the continued lowering thereof, as is apparent.

When the mandrel 31 is in lowered position within the frame opening 3the forming blocks 2929 are moved toward each other over the adjacentportions of the mandrel top to efiect a bending of the terminal ends ofthe wire section I) thereo-ver in lapping relation, as indicated in Fig.8, the block 29 preferably moving slightly in ad vance of the otherblock to cause the wire 7 ends of a wire section b have been bent overterminal acted on thereby to be first folded ,55 of a transformer 56, ofany suitable conover the mandrel so that the end of the other wireterminal will lap over its end. I

The blocks 2929 have forked portions 41 working down through registeringslots in the respective frame parts 3- for the upper ends of therespective actuating rockarms 42 and-43 to PTO] ect into, as best shownin Fig. 5. These arms are carried by shafts 42 and 43*, respectively,which are j ournaled in the frame part 3 and have arms 42 and 43 wardfrom the pivotal end of the forked arm projecting downwardly from theirouter ends and attached to one end of the respective bars 44 and 45, theopposite ends of which are mounted for relative longitudinal reciprocalmovements upon the associated end of the shaft 12, being slotted at suchends for that purpose. Opposed reciprocal movements are impartedrespectively to the bars 44 and 45 by the action thereon of cams 46. and47 fixed to the shaft 12 the former of' which acts on a roller 48projecting laterally from the bar 44, while the latter thereof acts on aroller 49 projecting laterally from the arm 45, as best shown in Fig. 9.The cams 46 and 47 and the rollers with which they respectively coactare so relatively arranged that they will impart opposite oscillatorymovements 'in unison to the levers 42 and 43 when the mandrel 31 is inlowered position to move the forming blocks 29 and ,29 to-' ward eachother to fold the end portions of the looped Wire section b overthemandrel 31 with their terminals lapping each other as shown in Figs. 5and 8. As soon as the the mandrel the cams permit a recision of theforming blocks 29 and 29 under the influence of the spring 45, from overthe mandrel 31 to permit the mandrel to rise when the welding operationhas been completed, as hereinafter described.

Pivoted to an arm rising from the rear end of the table 3, as at 50, isa forwardly projecting forked arm 51 the lower furcation of which, atthe under side of its free end, carries. a welding die or electrode 52,which, when lowered from the normal position shown in Fig. l, and themandrel 31 is in its lowered position, coacts with a die or electrode 53mounted in the top of the mandrel 31 to clamp and electrically weld thelapped ends of a'wire section b when the i welding circuit is closed forsuch purpose, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The die 52 is connectedthrough a hinged or jointed lead 54 with one terminal of the secondarystruction, while -the die 53 has connection through a hinged or jointedlead 57 with the other terminal of the secondary 55 to close a circuitthrough the transformer when the dies 52 and 53 are electricallyconnected, as is well understood in the art.

A circuit-closer, having the parts 58 and 59, is disposed in circuitwith the primary 60 of the transformer and a source of electrical supplythrough the wires 61 and 62,

and the part 59 is moved into contact withv 63 (see Figs. 1 and 4) whichis provided on one side of a cam 64 carried by the shaft 38.

An arm 65 projects downward and for- 51 and carries a roller at its freeend in peripheral contact with the cam 64 to control the movements ofthe arm 51, said cam being of suitable form to effect a lowering of thearm at approximately the time and speed of lowering ofthe mandrel 31,whereby the die 52 is caused to coact with the mandrel die 53 to gripand weld the work when the -mandrel is at the lowest point of its move-I the rear of the die 52 in position for its free end to bear downwardupon the rear one of the folded-over ends of the wire section b when thedie is in work clamping or welding position. The free end of the springfinger 67 normally projects slightly below the plane of the lower end ofthe die 52 toadapt it to coact with the end portion of the wire sectionb, which is first folded over upon the mandrel 31, to hold such endsteady while the other end is lapped thereover and clamped theretopreparatory to welding. To prevent a relative lateral movement of thewire ends when engaged by the die 52 and finger 67 the Wire coactingsurfaces of such members are notched to seat over the respective wireends,'as indicated. A spring 68 is fixed to the arm 51 without theinnerend of the spring finger 67 and projects rearward over such finger tocooperate with the spring action thereof to resist a springing of thefinger when in clamping engagement with the work.

When the mandrel 31 has been raised to its elevated position with awelded wire section 5 therearound, a work ejecting member 69 is movedto-coact with and eject the welded wire from one end of the mandrel.-

The member 69 is shown as being angled in U-shape, to adapt it to extendp'artially around the mandrel when the latter is elevated, and isattached to the rod 70, which is mounted above the elevated position ofthe mandrel for reciprocatory movements transversely of the machine. Therod has one end guided for reciprocal movements by an arm 71 projectingforward from the upper end portion of one of the standards 2, and hasits opposite end pivotally attached to an end of the control;

lever 7 2, which lever projects forward and downward therefrom and isfulcrumed to studs 73 projecting from the outer side of the associatedstandard 2. A cam 74 which is mounted on the shaft 12 adjacent to thegear 14 acts upon a roller carried at the lower rear end of-thelever 7 2to control the ejecting movements of the ejecting member 69. A coiledcontraction spring connects the forward end portion ofthe lever 72 tothe arm 71 and actson the lever to yieldingly retain its lower end inengagement with the cam 74.

The operation of the machine is as follows: In starting a cycle ofoperations of the machine the mandrel 31 and die carrying arm 51. standin the elevated positions shown in Fig. 1 and the wire feed members 19act to feed a length of wire a across the tops of the forming blocks29and 29 and under the mandrel 31. Approximately at the time of stoppingof the feed of the Wire a, by reason of the feed members 19, 19 movingfrom engagement therewith, the cams 27 act on the levers 24 to impart awire severing movement to the knife 23. When the section b lias beensevered from the wire thread the cam 36 on the shaft 38 has moved asuflicient distance for its neutral portion to pass from under the roll37,the cam then acting to lower the mandrel 31 to efiect a gripping ofthe Wire section between the mandrel and yieldable plunger 32 and adrawing of the wire section into U-sha'pe within the frame opening 3, asshown in Fig. 7. The cams 46 and 47, which are carried by the shaft 12,now act upon the bars 44 and 45, attached to the levers 42 and- 43",respectively, to impart inward movements to the forming blocks 29 and 29to bend the upwardly projecting end portions of the wire section b overthe top of the mandrel 31, the Wire end which is acted upon by the block29 being first folded upon the mandrel 31 to permit the terminal portionof the other end to lap thereover, as best shownin Fig. 8. 'By the timethe ends of the wire section b have been lapped over each other in thismanner the arm 51 has lowered sufficiently, by the action of the cam 64on the arm 65, to cause the free end of the spring-finger 67 to firstengage the rear one of the section ends to hold it firmly to themandrel, and immediately after such engagement of the spring-finger 67with the wire section the die descends upon the lapping portions of thewire ends to clamp .tuated by the spring 75 to move the ejector themtogether. As soon as the die 52 has descended into wire clampingposition the boss 63 on the cam 64 will have moved into contact with theyielding part 59 of the circuit closer 58, 59 to move said parts intocontact to close the welding circuit. The coaction of the boss 63 andcircuit closer part is of sufficient duration to effect the properwelding of the ends of the wire section b after which the cam 64 actsupon the arm 65 to raise the die carrying arm 51, and the cam 36 actsupon the roller 37 to raise the mandrel to its elevated position, thuscompleting. a cycle of operations of the machine. When such cycle ofoperations is completed the wire feed members 19, 19 will have againmoved into wire feeding position and effect a feeding of another lengthof wire across the forming blocks 29, 29 and under the mandrel, and thesevering, forming and welding of the same will be then accomplished asabove described. During the feeding of a wire section the cam 74 permitsa movement of the lever 72, ac-

finger 69 to effect an ejection of awelded wire section from themandrel.

It is apparent that I have provided a simple and efiicient machine whichis automatically operable to intermittently feed a length of wire to theforming parts, then to sever the fed section and act upon it to form itinto rectangular or other desired shape, depending uponthe form of themandrel, after which the ends of the wire section are 10 welded togetherand the wire then ejected from the machine.

I Wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction or arrangement of the parts except in so far as 1 5 suchlimitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,

1. In an electric welding machine, a movm able work shaping memberhaving a part forming an electrode, and mechanism having anautomatically movable part for cooperating with said electrode at apredeterminedpoint in a movement of said member to electrically weld anarticle carried thereby. v

2. In an electric weldin machine, a reciprocal work shaping mem erhaving a part forming an electrode, and mechanism having 13o anelectrode which is automatically movable to cotiperate with theelectrode of said memberat a predetermined point in its movement to Weldan article carried thereby.

3. In an electric welding machine, a re- 5 ciprocal mandrel, meanscontrolling the reciprocal movements of the mandrel, means operable tocooperate with the mandrel when in one position of its movement to shapework, and an electrode automatically mov- 139 able to cooperate with apart of the mandrel at a predetermined point in the movement thereoftoweld work.

4. In an electric welding machine, a reciprocal mandrel yieldinglymovable in one direction, means controlling the movements of saidmandrel, cam controlled means for cooperating with the mandrel to shapework,

and a set of electrodes automatically operable to eflect a welding ofthe work when shaped.

5. In an electric welding machine, a set of relatively movableelectrodes, an arm car rying one of said electrodes and operable toimpart predetermined movements to the electrode, and a spring fingercarried by said arm and operable to engage and hold a portion of thework without the point of weld prior to a clamping of the work by theelectrodes.

6. In an electric welding machine, a mandrel, an electrode carried bythe mandrel, means operable to cooperate with the mandrel to shape worktherearound and to lap its ends over said electrode, and means operableto first clamp the work and then to electrically weld the lapping endsthereof.

7. In an electric welding machine, work shaping mechanism operable toshape and lap the ends of a piece of work over a mandrel part inlaterally abutting relation, means operable to electrically weld thelapping work ends, and means automatically operable to engage and hold aportion of the work prior to and during the welding operation.

8. In an electric welding machine, a man drel, means for shaping a pieceof work about said mandrel and lapping one end thereof over the other,means automatically operable to weld the lapped ends of the work, and aclamping part movable to engage and hold one of the work ends stationaryprior to and during the welding operation.

9. In an electric welding machine, work shaping mechanism operable toshape and lap the ends of a piece of work over a mandrel part inlaterally abutting relation, means operable to electrically weld thelapping work ends, and means automatically operable to engage an endportion of the work without the point of weld and hold it to 'themandrel during the welding operation.

10. Inan electric welding machine, work shaping mechanism operable toshape and lap the ends of a piece of work over a mandrel part inposition to laterally abut one without the other, means automaticallyop-' erable to engage the innermost end portion of the work without thepoint of weld and hold it to the mandrel, and means operable to clampthe outermost work end to the other end and to cooperate with a part ofsaid mandrel to electrically weld the work ends. I

11. In an electric weld-ing machine, a recip'rocatory work shapingmandrel having a part thereof forming an electrode, an electrode forcooperating with said mandrel electrode to weld together the interposedlapped work ends.

12. In an electric Welding machine, a work shaping mandrel having a partthereof forming an electrode, and means for cooperating with saidmandrel part to clamp interposed lapping work ends together, and meansmovable to hold a portion of the work without the point of weld prior tothe clamping action of the welding means.

13. In an electric welding machine, a mandrel having a part forming anelectrode, means for folding work portions in opposite directions overthe mandrel with their adjacent ends lapping, means for clamping one ofthe work portions to the mandrel, and an electrode automaticallyoperable to cooperate with the electrode of said mandrel to clamp thework ends together and weld the same subsequent to the clamping actionof said clamping means.

14. An electric welding machine having relatively movable electrodes anda yieldingly movable finger disposed without the work-clamping point ofsaid electrodes and insulated therefrom, said finger being operable upona relative clamping movement of the electrode to engage a portion of theWork and hold it stationary during the weld ing operation.

15. In an electric welding machine, work shaping mechanism having amovable mandrel part about which work is shaped and an electrodeoperable at a predetermined point in the movement of said mandrel tomove between parts of the shaping mechanism to weld lapping portions ofthe work.

16. In an electric welding machine, a movable work shaping mandrelhaving a part forming an electrode, cam means controlling the movementsof said mandrel, and mechanism operable by said cam means and having anelect-rode for cooperating with said mandrel at a predetermined point inits movement to weld together theends of work shaped by the mandrel.

17. In an electric welding machine, a reciprocally movable work-shapingmandrel. an electrode for cooperating with a part of said mandrel toweld work carried thereby, and means having parts in common for movingthemandrel to shape work and the electrode to cooperate with a part ofthe mandrel at a predetermined point in its movement to weld the work.

18. In an electric welding machine, a reciprocally movable work-shapingmandrel. a. cam operable to impart movements to the mandrel, anelectrode for cooperating with the mandrel.

19. In an electric welding machine, a reciprocally movable work-shapingmandrel,

a cam operable to impart movements to the mandrel, an oscillatoryelectrode, and means operated by said cam for moving the elec; trode tocooperate with a part of the mandrel to clamp work at a predeterminedpoint in a movement of the mandrel.

20. In an electric welding machine, a reciprocally movable work-shapingmandrel, a cam operable toimpart movements to said mandrel, anoscillatory electrode, means movable by said cam for moving saidelectrode to cooperate with a part of the mandrel to clamp work at apredetermined point in the movement of the mandrel; and a work clampingmember yieldingly movable with the electrode and adapted to clamp workto the mandrel without the'point of weld and prior to the clampingaction of said electrode and mandrel part.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto I signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. BEAM. Witnesses S. T. KLo'rz, C. W. OWEN.

